From: Monica R. Edinger <edinger>
Date: Fri, 03 May 2002 14:52:05 -0400

I clearly have Arlene on my brain today. A few minutes ago I was helping my students as they worked on Pilgrim historical fiction. They are moving into a variety of narrative styles after doing a great deal of research. At the end of the period one boy asked me if he could have his character die in the middle of his story. Well, I asked, had he ever read a book where the main character died in the middle of the story? The others got involved and we all got a bit silly (I mean, it is Friday afternoon!) as I challenged them on this. Then I said I did happen to know such a book and read Arlene Sardine to them which amused them greatly. So I now have to retract my earlier statement and rework it to say that I've come across at least one group of 4th graders who find Arlene Sardine as funny as I do! And I have to say I forgot how much fun it is to read aloud. Looking for Arlene, all her friends swimming this way and that, and the terrific language such as "Then she was smoked, delicately. She was delicately smoked. Delicately smoked was she."


Monica

Monica Edinger The Dalton School New York NY edinger at dalton.org monicaedinger at yahoo.com
Received on Fri 03 May 2002 01:52:05 PM CDT